Nolah Original Mattress Review

Is the Nolah Original Mattress for You?

Who’s Going to Love the Nolah Original Mattress

• Side sleepers
• Sleepers with back pain
• People who sleep hot

Who Should Steer Clear of the Nolah Original Mattress

• Heavyweight sleepers; instead, the Saatva HD mattress is designed with extra supportive and durable materials specifically for folks over 230 lbs.
• Innerspring mattress lovers; instead, the Saatva Classic mattress will give you the bounce and support of a traditional innerspring bed, plus the comfort of a foam pillow top.
• People who enjoy the “hugging” feel of memory foam; instead, consider the memory foam feel of the original Nectar mattress.

Nolah Mattress Video Review

Nolah Original Mattress Firmness and Feel

Nolah Mattress Firmness

The Nolah Original falls around medium-firm, or 6/10 on the 1–10 firmness scale. Side sleepers tend to sleep best on medium-firm mattresses that can cradle their hips and shoulders to provide pressure relief, so they should be very comfortable on the Nolah Original mattress. 

On the other hand, stomach sleepers generally need a nice, firm mattress to support their hips, so they may not be as comfortable on the Nolah. This is especially true for heavyweight sleepers, who typically need a firmer, more supportive mattress.

What Does the Nolah Mattress Feel Like?

As an all-foam mattress, the Nolah has a dense, conforming feel. It offers the great pressure relief of memory foam without the “hugging” sensation. While heavier sleepers may perceive the Nolah to feel more plush—closer to medium-soft on the firmness scale—we think it has a more balanced feel that combines both cushion and support.

What Sleeping Position is the Nolah Original Mattress Best For?

Body Type:	BACK SLEEPERS	STOMACH SLEEPERS	SIDE SLEEPERS
Lightweight (< 130 lbs):	5	4	5
Average-weight (130–230 lbs):	4	3	5
Heavyweight (> 230 lbs):	3	2	4

1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent

Back Sleepers

Chiropractors would rather we all slept on our backs. It’s the best sleeping position because it keeps our spines in a neutral position. The best mattresses for back sleepers offer contouring for the hips and buttocks, plus plenty of support. 

The Nolah Original mattress offers plenty of contouring and cushioning, but it may not offer quite enough support for some back sleepers, especially heavyweight back sleepers. If you are a lightweight sleeper, the Nolah Original should provide just enough support, and average-weight sleepers may find it to be just right or a little too soft.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need contouring more urgently than other types of sleepers. They’re sleeping on the curviest parts of their bodies where the most body weight presses into the mattress: the shoulders and hips. The mattress needs to cushion those points while supporting the areas in between your curves.

Normally, a hybrid mattress does both. But, Nolah mattresses were built with a latex-like foam that operates like a hybrid, giving you the bounce of latex and the cushioning of coils. Lightweight and average-weight sleepers will be most comfortable on the Nolah Original, while heavyweight sleepers may find that it doesn’t offer quite enough support. The Nolah Original is specifically built for side sleepers, and it’s one of the best mattresses for side sleepers on the market.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers need a mattress to contour to their shoulders, stomach, and hips. However, if the mattress is too soft, your hips will dip too far forward and your spine will suffer. Therefore, stomach sleepers should focus on both firmness and materials when shopping for a mattress. 

Lightweight stomach sleepers are often very comfortable with a medium firmness level like the Nolah Original, while average-weight sleepers benefit from a medium-firm to firm mattress. Heavyweights sleepers will often find a medium or medium-firm mattress too soft to provide proper support for their hips, and need a firmer mattress instead. These folks should check out the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

Combination Sleepers

Combination sleepers toss and turn, changing position throughout the night. This means they need a mattress that can respond quickly to their movements instead of hugging them into one spot. 

The Nolah Original has incredible responsiveness, making it a great option for lightweight and average-weight sleepers. However, heavyweight combination sleepers may find it more difficult to move around on this mattress and are more likely to be uncomfortable in a variety of positions. To learn more about this style of sleeping, check out our list of the best mattresses for combination sleepers.

Nolah Original Mattress Performance

Is the Nolah Mattress Cooling?

Usually, foam mattresses aren’t the best cooling mattresses, but that isn’t the case with the Nolah Original, thanks to its TENCEL cover and AirFoam construction. Tencel is a breathable material that doesn’t retain body heat, which helps keep you cool while you sleep. 

The AirFoam that makes up the Nolah Original mattress is also very breathable, thanks to the air pockets built into the foam. If you’re an especially hot sleeper, look into a hybrid mattress with breathable coils; otherwise, the Nolah should work for the average sleeper. 

Edge Support 

With seven inches of high-density foam, the Nolah Original is a very supportive mattress, making it an ideal fit for a wide variety of sleeping positions and preferences. For instance, many memory foam mattresses experience sagging or collapse around the edges due to the soft material; however, the Nolah demonstrates excellent edge support, which is great if you tend to sleep near the edge of the bed, or sit on the edge of the bed in the morning to get ready.

But, it’s not just the edges of the mattress that are supportive. The Nolah Original offers excellent support for side sleepers and back sleepers to keep the spine in alignment; plus, it’s great for combination sleepers who need a highly supportive mattress that quickly and easily responds to their movements.

Responsiveness 

Unlike memory foam, AirFoam has a latex-like composition that springs back to shape after pressure is removed. That’s great news for combination sleepers and those looking for a mattress with enough responsiveness to keep them from feeling “stuck” in the foam. Overall, we gave the Nolah Original an above-average score in this performance category.

Motion Isolation: Is the Nolah good for couples?

One of the most important factors couples should consider before buying a mattress is motion isolation. If one partner tends to toss and turn, you want to make sure your mattress isolates motion on their side of the bed, so there is minimal motion transfer to your side. This will help both partners sleep soundly throughout the night. You can check out our couples sleep guide to learn more about sharing your bed with a partner.

The Nolah Original offers excellent motion isolation thanks to its all-foam construction. Nolah’s signature AirFoam absorbs movement with the tiny air pockets built into the foam. This keeps your movements isolated to your side of the bed, so you don’t disturb your partner. Check out our list of the best mattresses for couples to see some more options that excel in this space.

Noise

We didn’t notice any noise when moving around on the Nolah, so it’s safe to say it’s a very quiet mattress.

Pain Relief

The Nolah Original has many pain-relieving qualities, like good pressure relief for back sleepers and strong support for proper spinal alignment. Nolah’s signature AirFoam cradles your pressure points to relieve pressure and pain, but it also has a few potential drawbacks. 

For instance, it is only offered in medium firmness, though most chiropractors recommend a firmer mattress to back sleepers to reduce back pain.Plus, our pressure map showed concentrations of pressure in side sleepers’ hips.

That being said, if you sleep on your back, the Nolah Original offers excellent pain relief thanks to its pressure-relieving qualities.

Sex

When deciding on the best mattresses for sex, we look for responsiveness, temperature control, and noise. The Nolah is responsive, but it lacks the bounce of coils. It also doesn’t have the breathability of coils, though it stays pretty temperature neutral. If noise is your concern, rest assured that the Nolah is very quiet.

Off-Gassing

There may be an off-gassing smell from the foam; this is not harmful. Simply allow your Nolah to air out for a few hours before sleeping on it.

Durability 

Not satisfied with the usual foam and latex used to build mattresses for decades, Nolah created a more durable and comfortable bed using proprietary foams like AirFoam. With that said, if you’re looking to maximize the lifespan of your mattress, a hybrid or latex mattress will last the longest.

Nolah Original Mattress Construction: What’s it made of?

The Nolah Original 10” mattress is made of three layers of foam and wrapped in a soft, breathable TENCEL cover that helps moisture evaporate to keep you dry and cool.

TENCEL Cover: TENCEL is a soft, breathable, sustainable material that wicks away body heat to keep you sleeping cool all night long.

AirFoam Comfort Layer: This top layer is 2” of AirFoam with air pockets that help relieve pressure, keep you cool, and cradle your body’s curves.

Supportive High-Resilience Foam: This 1” transition layer is meant to prevent sinkage by offering extra support.

High-Density Base Foam: The support layer is made up of 7” of high-density polyfoam to provide a solid, durable structure for the mattress.

How Much Does the Nolah Original Mattress Cost?

Mattress Size	Price	Dimensions	Height	Weight
Twin	$999.00	39″ x 75″	10”	44 lbs
Twin XL	$1199.00	39″ x 80″	10”	47 lbs
Full	$1349.00	54″ x 75″	10”	58 lbs
Queen	$1149.00	60″ x 80″	10”	70 lbs
King	$1749.00	76″ x 80″	10”	87 lbs
California King	$1749.00	72″ x 84″	10”	85 lbs

For the best price on a Nolah mattress, see our Nolah Mattress Coupons. If you are shopping on a budget, see our picks for the Best Affordable Mattress.

How Do the Policies Measure Up? 

Shipping & Unboxing

Nolah mattresses ship for free in the 48 contiguous U.S. states, and will arrive five to 10 days after you order your mattress. Nolah beds are made to order, so that accounts for the three to five days it takes to make your mattress and the two to five days it takes for delivery. 

Nolah delivers through the bed-in-a-box delivery method. All you have to do is take the mattress out of the box, free it from the plastic covering, and place it on your foundation. Then, it will fully expand from its compression. You can sleep on it after a few hours, but it can take up to two days for it to come to full size.

Nolah Mattress Warranty Information

Nolah offers a Lifetime warranty on their Original 10” mattresses. The Nolah mattress warranty will come into play if the mattress is found defective due to an error in workmanship or functional defects like permanent indentations over 1”. It only applies to the original owner of the mattress. If Nolah finds a problem, they’ll repair or replace the mattress according to a prorated schedule:

• 0–2 years: Nolah will send you a free replacement mattress. They’ll repair the mattress cover through year one only.
• 3–10 years: Nolah will repair and recover your mattress for the cost of shipping ($99 both ways).
• 11–25 years: You’ll pay 50 percent of the original cost for a new replacement mattress.
• 25+ years: You’ll pay 60 percent of the original cost for a new replacement mattress.

Also, after year three, you can choose the “Don’t Lose Sleep” option, which enables you to keep your original mattress and buy a brand new one for 50–80 percent of the original price you paid.

What Is Covered By the Nolah Mattress Warranty?

• Permanent body impressions in the surface foam deeper than 1″
• Splits, cracks, or crumbling of the foam not resulting from improper use
• Broken cover zipper not resulting from improper use

What the Nolah Mattress Warranty Does Not Cover

• Indentations that are less than 1” deep
• Normal softening of the mattress over time
• Damage caused by a poor foundation
• Subjective issues like comfort or temperature
• Damage caused by accidents (ex: a burn spot from a candle)

Factors That Would Void the Nolah Warranty

• Improper Support: The Nolah mattress must be kept on a firm, flat surface. A sagging box spring or bed frame with slats more than 4” apart may cause damage and void warranty coverage. Acceptable foundations include the floor, platform frame, adjustable base, box spring in good condition or a slatted base with slats spaced no more than 3″ to 4”.
• Owner-Caused Damage or Abuse: Spills, burns, tears, bed bugs, mold, moisture, and other damage not caused by a material or craftsmanship defect might void the warranty.
• Change in Ownership: Only the person who purchased the mattress from Nolah is covered under the warranty. Once the mattress has changed hands, the warranty is voided.
• Commercial Mattress Use: Only mattresses for personal use are covered by the Nolah warranty. Any use at a bed & breakfast, school, AirBnB or other commercial use voids the warranty.
• Leaving Your New Bed in Its Box: Bed-in-a-box mattresses need to be unpackaged in a timely manner. Your Nolah mattress must be removed from its box within two weeks. Leaving it in the box any longer may lead to permanent compression and a voided warranty. It also extends the off-gassing period, so you may need to wait a few more days to sleep on it.
• Moving Outside Of the United States: Nolah will only fix beds that are located within the continental U.S., the same places that they ship new mattresses.

Filing A Warranty Claim With Nolah Sleep

Filing a warranty claim isn’t too complicated, but there are multiple steps if you want to have the claim approved.

1. Gather Purchase Information: Try to find your original purchase email. It’s helpful to have the order number, purchaser’s name, date of purchase and shipping address.
2. Contact Nolah: Call or email Nolah to get the process started. They’ll provide step-by-step instructions and can tell you whether or not the claim is likely to be covered.
3. Submit Requested Information: The Nolah representative will ask for proof of the defect. Take photos or videos of the defect and send them to Nolah.
4. Look Out for the Decision: Nolah will contact you once your warranty claim has been approved or denied.
5. Follow Instructions for Repair or Replacement: If Nolah approves your claim, they’ll send you an email with the next steps. This may include preparing your mattress for pickup or paying for shipping (after 15 years of ownership).

Trial Period & Returns

Nolah gives you a longer-than-industry-standard 120-night sleep trial to test drive its mattresses. Basically, you can sleep on your new Nolah mattress for up to 120 nights, and if you decide that the Nolah isn’t for you, you can send it back for free and receive a full refund. You’ll just need to sleep on the mattress for 30 days before requesting a return, which gives your body time to adjust to the new mattress.

After 30 nights, contact Nolah if you decide that your new bed doesn’t live up to your expectations. A Nolah representative will find a local charity or mattress recycling company to come to your door and pick up the bed. You don’t need to stuff the mattress back into its original box. Simply carry the mattress to your front door and be home during the scheduled pickup time. 

Once the mattress is successfully donated, you can expect a full refund in up to seven business days. If you received free pillows during your purchase, you get to keep those as a parting gift. If you go over 120 nights, Nolah does not accept returns. 

Addressing Common Nolah Mattress Complaints

• Not firm enough for stomach sleepers or heavier people: Stomach sleepers and heavyweight sleepers need more support from their mattress in order to get a good night’s sleep, and the Nolah is too soft.
• Too firm for lightweight side sleepers: Although the Nolah is too soft for stomach sleepers and heavyweight sleepers, it actually may be too firm for very lightweight side sleepers.
• Not as durable as other options: The Nolah Original mattress has an average durability for a foam mattress, but it’s not nearly as durable as a hybrid or innerspring option.

Comparing Different Nolah Mattresses

Nolah Original vs. Nolah Signature

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Nolah Original 10″ Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Score

4.7 / 5

Check Price

Read Nolah Original 10″ Mattress Review

Product

Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Score

3.0 / 5

Check Price

Read Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress Review

Nolah Original Mattress is Best For:	Nolah Signature Mattress is Best For:
Budget-Conscious Shoppers	Combination Sleepers
Side Sleepers	Couples Or Co-Sleepers
Those Who Need Pressure Relief	Back Sleepers

The Nolah Original is an affordable, all-foam mattress that offers excellent pressure relief and support at an affordable price. It’s both high-quality and low-cost, and the combination makes it an ideal choice for budget shoppers. However, if you have a little extra money to invest in your new mattress, you might want to splurge on the Nolah Signature 12”.

Unlike the Nolah Original, the Signature has a cooling cover and extra layer of foam. It’s also an all-foam mattress, and the foams used are very responsive, making it a great option for combination sleepers.

See our full Nolah Signature Mattress Review to learn more.

Nolah Original vs. Nolah Evolution

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Nolah Original 10″ Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Score

4.7 / 5

Check Price

Read Nolah Original 10″ Mattress Review

Product

Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress

Firmness

Score

4.8 / 5

Check Price

Read Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress Review

Nolah Original Mattress is Best For:	Nolah Evolution Mattress is Best For:
All-Foam Mattress Shoppers	Hot Sleepers
Side Sleepers	Hybrid Mattress Fans
Budget-Conscious Shoppers	Heavyweight Sleepers

The Nolah Original mattress is made from Nolah Sleep’s signature AirFoam, which provides the contouring and pressure relief of memory foam without the added heat or “hugging” sensation. But, if you’re looking for even better cooling properties, we recommend the Nolah Evolution.

The Nolah Evolution is a hybrid mattress, combining the AirFoamICE layer, an extra cool version of Nolah’s signature AirFoam, and coils which allow for excellent airflow. The coils also add extra support, which is better for heavyweight sleepers. However, the Nolah Evolution is less budget-friendly than the Nolah Original.

See our full Nolah Evolution Mattress Review to learn more.

Comparing Nolah to the Competition

Nolah Original vs. Nectar Original

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Nolah Original 10″ Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Score

4.7 / 5

Check Price

Read Nolah Original 10″ Mattress Review

Product

Nectar Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Score

4.0 / 5

Check Price

Read Nectar Mattress Review

Nolah Original Mattress is Best For:	Nectar Original Mattress is Best For:
Those Who Need Pressure Relief	Those Who Want A “Hugging” Sensation From Their Mattress
Hot Sleepers	Average-Weight Stomach Sleepers
Sleepers Who Need Motion Isolation	Lightweight Sleepers

The Nolah Original mattress has a lot in common with the Nectar mattress: they’re affordable and simple but high-quality foam beds with great motion isolation. However, there are a few important differences to be aware of.

The Nectar mattress is a memory foam mattress, and it has more of a “hugging” sensation compared to the Nolah Original. The memory foam layers also means that it sleeps hotter than the Nolah Original. Additionally, the Nectar mattress offers better support for lightweight and average-weight stomach sleepers compared to the Nolah Original.

Read our Nectar vs. Nolah Mattress Comparison to learn more.

Nolah Original vs. Layla Original

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Nolah Original 10″ Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Score

4.7 / 5

Check Price

Read Nolah Original 10″ Mattress Review

Product

Layla Mattress

Firmness

Multiple firmness options

Score

3.6 / 5

Check Price

Read Layla Mattress Review

Nolah Original Mattress is Best For:	Layla Original Mattress is Best For:
Those Who Want To Sleep “On” Their Mattress	Those Who Like Feeling “Hugged” By Their Mattress
Hot Sleepers	Back sleepers
Side Sleepers	Stomach Sleepers

The Nolah Original mattress is a great option for side sleepers, hot sleepers and people who like the contouring feel of memory foam but would rather feel like they’re sleeping “on” the bed rather than “in” it. If you prefer feeling like you’re sleeping “in” your mattress, then you might prefer the soft side of the Layla mattress.

On the other hand, if you are a back or stomach sleeper and need a nice firm sleep surface, you might prefer the Layla mattress. It is two-sided, with one side offering a nice plush feel and the other a firm one. Plus, the Layla creates the feeling of sleeping “in” your mattress, if you prefer that.

See our full Layla vs. Nolah Mattress Comparison to learn more. 

Nolah Original vs. Purple Original

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Nolah Original 10″ Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Score

4.7 / 5

Check Price

Read Nolah Original 10″ Mattress Review

Product

Purple Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Score

3.8 / 5

Check Price

Read Purple Mattress Review

Nolah Original Mattress is Best For:	Purple Original Mattress is Best For:
Traditional Memory Foam Fans	Those Who Want Cushion Without Contouring
Those Who Need Good Edge Support	People With Back pain
Couples & Co-sleepers	Back & Side Sleepers

The Nolah Original mattress and the Purple mattress both offer comfortable, supportive alternatives to memory foam. They are both great for side sleepers and offer excellent cooling properties; neither one is built for heavyweight sleepers. They even have similar prices. However, there are some important differences as well.

The Purple mattress feels very different from the Nolah Original. The Purple mattress is made with a hyper-elastic polymer grid that has a very unique feel. It cushions the body without contouring to it like memory foam or the AirFoam used in Nolah mattresses. The Nolah Original, on the other hand, feels much more like a traditional memory foam mattress, just without the “hugging” sensation.

Check out our Purple vs. Nolah Mattress Comparison for more information.

Still Undecided? Check Out These Other Mattress Comparisons

• Nolah vs. Bear
• Nolah vs. Brooklyn Bedding
• Nolah vs. Layla
• Nolah vs. Leesa
• Nolah vs. Nectar
• Nolah vs. Puffy
• Nolah vs. Purple
• Nolah vs. Tuft & Needle

Nolah Original Mattress FAQs

The Nerd’s Take: What’s the Bottom Line?

Nolah designed the Nolah Original mattress for side sleeping: it pays extra attention to the need for contouring around the hips and shoulders and supports proper spinal alignment. Everyone except stomach sleepers and heavyweight sleepers will find something to like about the Nolah Original mattress.

The Nerd’s Scores for the Nolah Original Mattress

Performance Factor	Out of 5
Motion Isolation	4.5
Pressure Relief	3.5
Ease of Movement	4
Edge Support	2
Temperature Control	3
Durability	3

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